Rein-holder.



Patented May 28, mm.

0. s. WATKINS. REIN HOLDER.

(Application filed Aug. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

m mums warns on, Pmwurn UNrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. WATKINS, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

REIN-HIOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,030, dated May 28, 1901.

Application filed August 15, 1900. Serial No. 26,938. (No model.)

- To (all IUII/OHL it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES S. WATKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rein-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in rein-holders in which the rein-holder operates in connection with the terrets to hold the reins in position at the proper time or times.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and efficient rein-holder for retaining the lines or hitching-strap of a harness at desired times in such a manner as to permit them to be quickly and easily inspring for holding the movable jaw against the rigid jaw.

In the construction and use of my improvements I take a harness-saddle a, of the usual type and of the desired size and shape, which is provided with the ordinary check-holder b and ferret-rings c and 0. These terret-rings are of the ordinary type, having neck portions (Z, connecting with a flanged shoulder e. The screw-threaded shank (not shown) is of the usual size and type and fastens the terret-ring and hereinafter-described rein-' holder to the saddle.

To hold the reins at desired times, I make a rein-holder having a rigid jaw fand a yielding jaw g, of the desired siZe and shape, as shown in Fig. 2. The rigid jaw is preferably formed integral with a base-plate h, which base is perforated at t' and held firmly in place upon the harness in the desired position by the screw-shank of the terret-ring.

As above suggested, I provide a yielding jaw( which is pivotally mounted on the base portion adjacent to the rigid jaw and in position to contact the rigid jaw or grasp the lines between the yielding and rigid jaws. This yielding jaw has preferably a convex surface near its free end and on the face nearest the rigid jaw, so that when it is pressed against the rigid jaw such portion contacts the rigid jaw at the desired point. The ends of the jaws are preferably tapered, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to form a V-shaped opening between their extreme ends when the jaws are closed, thus radially admitting the reins and hitching-strap.

To permit the desired movement of the yielding jaw, it is, as above suggested, preferably pivotally mounted on the base at the outer and near the lower portion of the rigid jaw and by means of a pivot-pin it passed through its lugs j and j and through the lugs Z and Z on the base. Ahelical tension-spring is passed around the pivot-pin, having one end firmly secured therein, as shown in Fig. 3, and the other end extended upwardly at a tangent to the circumference of the pivotpin and in contact with the swinging jaw. This tension-spring should have sufficient force to press the yielding jaw against the rigid jaw, hold the reins at desired times firmly between the jaws, and permit such reins to be readily drawn from between them.

The principal advantages incident to the use of myimprovements are, first, much time is saved that would otherwise necessarily be employed in tying and untying the reins and hitching-strap; second, it is more convenient for the driver to manipulate the lines and hitching-strap; third, it is safer in that the driver can at all times hold the horse by means of the hitching-strap or the lines, or both, while either one, or both, are being adjusted in the rein-holder, and, fourth, it is economical to manufacture in that it can be cast of any desired metal, such as brass or cast or malleable iron.

I claim- 7 In a rein-holder, a flat perforated base portion having a solid rigid jaw at one end integral therewith extending upward at substantially right angles with the base, lugs integral with the base portion extending beyond the rigid jaw in line and flush with the base, a swinging jaw pivotally mounted between the lugs having its extreme lower end flush with the bottom surface of the base, and a spring mounted at the lower end of the swinging jaw holding it at a tension against the rigid jaw, substantially as described.

CHARLES S. WATKINS. Witnesses:

THOMAS F. SHERIDAN, H. D. OROMER. 

